Every veteran deserves stability, dignity, and a safe place to call home.
On this Veterans Day, Goodwill of Silicon Valley honors those who’ve served our nation, while raising awareness of the challenges many of them continue to face long after their service ends.
The Ongoing Challenges Veterans Face
Each year, tens of thousands of veterans struggle with housing insecurity, unemployment, and the difficult transition to civilian life.
- Homelessness: Nearly 33,000 veterans experience homelessness on any given night in America. While that number has dropped by 55% since 2010, far too many veterans remain without stable housing. Many face compounding barriers like rising rents, limited affordable housing, mental health challenges, and access to care.
- Unemployment: Although the overall veteran unemployment rate stands at just 3.0%, newly separated service members often face months of uncertainty as they navigate job searches, credentialing hurdles, and the emotional challenges of reintegration.
- Isolation: The shift from structured military life to civilian independence can lead to loneliness and disconnection, underscoring the importance of community and purpose.
(Source: National Coalition for Homeless Veterans)
These challenges are not abstract – they’re personal, and they’re local. Here in Silicon Valley, the high cost of living and limited housing supply make it even harder for veterans to get back on their feet.
Veteran Family Services: Building Stability
Goodwill of Silicon Valley works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs work to end veteran homelessness in Santa Clara County.
Our Veteran Family Services (VFS) team of housing specialists, case managers, and employment experts provides veterans and their families with:
- Short-term financial assistance for rent, utilities, and move-in costs
- Personalized case management to address barriers to stability
- Connections to VA and local resources for long-term support
In 2024, Veterans Family Services assisted 224 veteran households, surpassing our target of 55. This year, we’ve already helped 73 households secure housing, and that number continues to grow. Each represents a veteran reclaiming independence and a sense of home.
Veterans Employment Program: Restoring Purpose
The transition from service to civilian life can be daunting, but no veteran should face it alone. Our Veterans Employment Program (VEP), led by an all-veteran team, helps veterans find meaningful work and purpose.
Through career coaching, job placement, and wraparound support that includes transportation, housing, and mental health referrals, VEP empowers veterans to build lasting stability and reconnect with their communities.
When one veteran succeeds, the whole community grows stronger.
This Veterans Day and Beyond
Progress is being made, but our work isn’t done. Veteran homelessness is at a record low, yet every statistic still represents someone who served our country and deserves better.
Your support, whether you shop, donate, or share our mission, helps veterans in Silicon Valley find not just homes and jobs, but hope.
This Veterans Day, join us in standing with those who’ve served. Together, we can build a future where every veteran has a place to call home and a path forward.